Debt collection agencies are a dime a dozen nowadays. It seems that every time you walk the streets, there’s another business advertising their collection skills.

Asset Recovery Bureau is one such company. With a name that seems to be synonymous with many other debt collection companies in the same line of work, it’s difficult to know if they are legitimate or not. Here is what you need to know about Asset Recovery Bureau, and how to defend yourself if you are contacted by them.

What is Asset Recovery Bureau?

Asset Recovery Bureau is, as listed through the Better Business Bureau, an unclaimed funds retrieval service. They are said to serve the Greater Houston area, as well as the South Texas regions. They were established in 2009, with only about 10 employees to their name. They also go by the name Asset Recovery Bureau LLC.

There is a slight discrepancy when it comes to this company, however. Although information online is scarce, the Better Business Bureau has an Asset Recovery Bureau that only has them listed as an unclaimed funds retrieval service. This wording suggests that this may also be a type of debt collection agency, just not fully under that guise.

Is Asset Recovery Bureau a legit Debt Collection Agency?

The legitimacy of the company Asset Recovery Bureau is a little gray at this current time. Due to numerous reports of different agencies using the name, it is better to state that they are a non-legitimate company being run under the assumption it would pass as a legitimate debt collection agency.

There are a few different agencies, with one being based out of Houston, Texas. Another company is based out of California, with ties to payday loan stores in Murrieta, Temecula and Lake Elsinore.

With many companies going under the same name, it is believed that representatives contacting you on behalf of Asset Recovery Bureau may be scammers, as well as illegitimate companies attempting to elicit payments through illegal means.

Is there any information about Asset Recovery Bureau

Unfortunately, there is not. There are no known databases that hold information on Asset Recovery Bureau in detail. Any listed information here is subject to discretion, and should be used primarily in case suspicious calls are being made.

Address: 11811 North Freeway, Suite 500 Houston, TX 77060

Phone: 1-877-413-6965

There was no other known information on the California based company of Asset Recovery Bureau.

Are there cases against Asset Recovery Bureau?

Although there is very little information on this agency, there has been a case brought before the courts in 2014. During this case, it was brought before the courts that California residents, David and Julie Weathersby, had received a letter of collection from the Asset Recovery Bureau LLC. In this letter, it was stated that there was a final notice of a debt that the Weathersbys owed in the amount of $2400.00.

After this letter was sent, they were then contacted throughout the year multiple times by debt collectors that stated they were from Asset Recovery Bureau. Each time, they told the representative that they did not wish for the calls to continue, yet the representatives continued to call and harass the Weatherbys.

Because of this, David and Julie ended up hiring a consumer attorney, and sued Asset Recovery Bureau under breaches of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA).

The Federal Debt Collection Practice Act is a set of laws that explicitly stop debt collectors from using harassing and abusive techniques and practices when attempting to collect on a debt. These laws prohibit the following, as well as several others:

• Using excessive phone calls or robocalls
• Calling a consumer’s place of work or friends/neighbors
• Using threatening, abusive, or harassing language
• Threatening with legal actions (Suing, Arrest)

In the above trial, it was alleged that Asset Recovery Bureau had broken each of these laws, which means that they use illegal and underhanded methods and practices when attempting to collect on a debt.

How can I protect myself and fight back against Asset Recovery Bureau?

Because of the scarce information surrounding Asset Recovery Bureau, it is safe to assume that any representative calling you about a debt from their agency is a fraud or scammer. As such, taking precautionary measures in these times is very appropriate.

The first step you can take is to verify the representative and who they represent. To do this, ask for the representative’s first and last name, and then ask for which company they are working for. If they do not provide you with this information, you are under no obligation to give them any time about the debt they are wanting to collect on.

The second is to verify the debt they are collecting on. This can be done by asking for verification through physical means, or asking who the original debt holder was, and then confirming with the original debt holder that the debt is legitimate. If the representative cannot do so, then you are not obligated to pay for the debt at all.

If they continue to harass you, even after they have not done the items listed above, then it is time to hire a debt collection harassment attorney and start making a claim. To do this, you need a team of experienced and well-versed attorneys and lawyers that know debt collection harassment laws. We here at the Law Office of Paul Mankin, APC are well versed in the debt collection harassment laws, as well as many of the underhanded and sneaky ways representatives may try to extort payments from you. We can help you identify debt collection harassment, stop the harassment, and report the harassment to the proper authorities.

Not only can we help you to defend against harassment, we can also help to build a case, and assist you in understanding where the illegal collection patterns are for debt collectors. We are also able to help facilitate any communications or discussions between the parties, ensuring that nothing you say can be used against you.

The most important bit of information in your fight is to always remain vigilant. No matter who you have at your side, it can seem like a daunting battle against such a large company and agency. If you have ever been the subject of:

• Multiple calls per week from a third party collection agency
• Multiple calls in the early morning or late night from debt collectors.
• Violent and belligerent language and harassment from debt collectors.
• Threats of arrests or poor credit due to outstanding debts.
• Having your friends, family, and coworkers harassed from debt collectors.
• Automated robocalls from third party collection agencies.

Then you may have a case available. So do not wait, make sure to give us a call, and get started fighting back against the debt collection harassment.